The Origin
Mythological Background - Parasurama - founder of Keralam
Parasurama, the short-tempered warrior-sage regarded as the incarnation of Vishnu. After defeating the Kshathriya Kings,
the sage approached the wise men for penance. As a Self-mortification he was advised to create a land for Brahmins.
He readily agreed and meditated at Gokarnam, (considered to be the end of land). After getting the booms from Varuna,
the God of the Oceans and Bhumidevi, the Goddess of earth, he proceeded to Kanya Kumari (Cape Comorin) and threw
his battle-axe northwards across the waters. The waters subsided and what was left over was called the land of Parasurama,
that is today's Kerala.
Scientific Theology
Geologists have pointed out that the elevation of Kerala from the sea was the result of some seismic activity, either suddenly or gradually.
Another Thoughts prevailing in scientific society is the rivers of Kerala emptying into the Arabian seas bring down enormous
quantities of silt from the hills. The ocean currents transport quantities of sand towards the shore. The coastal portions could
well be due to the accumulation of this silt over thousands of years.
The Early Civilisation
The earliest inhabitants of Kerala were the Pulayas, Kuravas and Vetas. It is at a much later time that migratory Aryan
populations from the north landed and subjugated them through caste system.
By the beginning of the Christian era, the Cheran Dynasty was spread up to Western Ghats. The armies of Mauryan
Dynasty could not enter the lands of the Cheras. With time the rule of Cheran Dynasty declined, it coincided with the
rise of the Brahmins in Kerala. By the 10th century, they were powerful entity from Gokurnum (North Kerala) to the
Cape Comorin. These land owning class of Brahmins were well on their way to great wealth and power. To consolidate
their power, they developed Caste System (segregation between classes of people). Lands were leased out to next
higher castes for share-cropping, and these in turn would further be leased out to those lower on the caste hierarchy
and to non-Hindus. The lowest castes of course were only laborers and were traded along with the land. In such a rigid
hierarchy, the all-powerful Namboothiries were the unquestioned rulers.
The Christians who had arrived from the Middle East in the 3rd century AD and the Muslims who arrived in the
8th century were generally traders and were not involved in this social segregation and generally kept aloof from
the ambit of caste politics. The Jews who arrived Kerala in the early years of the Christian era were given privileges
to trade and became an influential part of the melting pot of Kerala's population.
Gradually Kerala entered a phase of feudal chieftains or warlords (naduvazhis). The Namboothiries anointed some.
At the turn of the 11th century AD there was a power struggle in the caste system supported by the Landlords and
ruled by the warlords. This in turn gave rise to instability in the absence of strong central leadership. Wars and
conflicts were common.
Ultimately three warlords emerged with some semblance of authority in their regions - the Zamorin of
Calicut (Samuthiri of Kozhikode) to the North, Moopins of Perimpadappu (near modern day Kochi) in the
central regions and chieftain of Kollam. This is precisely what the Europeans who found a sea-lane to the fabled land of spices and gold did.
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